Process for cleaning athletic uniforms



United States Patent 50 ce 3,063,785 PROCESS FQR CLEANlNG ATHLETIC UNIFORMS Clayton E. Foreman, 540 Leslie Drive, Salem, Oreg. No Drawing. Filed Dec. 14, 1959, Ser. No. 859,112 7 Claims. (Cl. 8--137) This invention pertains to cleaning processes, and relates particularly to a novel process for the effective cleaning of athletic uniforms. This application is a continuation-in-part of my now abandoned earlier application, Serial Number 728,050, filed April 14, 1958.

The cleaning of athletic uniforms such as football pants and jerseys, heretofore has been so unsuccessful that it has become generally recognized that uniforms of this type have a severely limited useful life. For example it is generally accepted that a football uniform is usable in varsity play for a maximum of a single season, and most often for only a portion of a single season. The reasons for this extremely limited useful life are many: Conventional cleaning practices fail to remove imbedded dirt, and thus the uniform changes color. The retention of dirt also weakens the fibers of the cloth and thus reduces its useful life. Conventional practices also fail to remove grass stains which further discolor the uniforms.

Conventional practices result in such great shrinkage of the uniform that the protective pads can no longer be properly positioned, and hence the athlete becomes subject to the hazards of injury and restricted motion. This problem of shrinkage is so severe that many athletic departments purchase their uniforms as much as two or three sizes larger than required, in order to accommodate the inevitable shrinkage that is to follow.

Conventional cleaning practices often result in the changing of colors of uniforms and of the running of colors one into another. This latter problem is especially critical with striped uniforms wherein sharply defined areas of different colors are important to maintain.

Still further, conventional cleaning practices at their best are time consuming and hence costly, often involving considerable hand work in order to achieve results which, although are the best that can be achieved, leave much to be desired.

Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide a process for cleaning athletic uniforms, which process avoids all of the disadvantages enumerated hereinbefore, to effect substantially complete removal of dirt and grass stains while avoiding color changes or color running and while reducing shrinkage to a practical minimum.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a process for cleaning athletic uniforms, which process may be carried out in a minimum of-time and with conventional cleaning equipment.

A further important object of the present invention is to provide a novel spotting solution for use with the present process for removing the most tenacious soil marks and grass stains from athletic uniforms.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of this invention will appear from the following detailed description:

In its basic concept, the process of the present invention involves the sequential steps of first washing the uniforms in cold water, repeatedly until the water clears, then washing the uniforms in solutions of soap and bleach at progressively elevated temperatures, and then rinsing the uniforms in waters of progressively decreasing temperatures.

Considering the foregoing in greater detail, let it be assumed that it is desired to clean a number of football uniforms which are covered with mud and grass stains. By using a commercial cylinder washer 40 inches long 3,063,785 Patented Nov. 13, 19ti2 and 30 inches in diameter, thirty football pants or thirty I football jerseys may be cleaned at one time. For the first step, the articles are placed in the washer With a low level of cold water, i.e. a quantity of water sufiicient only to submerge the articles and thus permit considerable scrubbing of the articles as the washer is rotated. In a washer of the size exemplified, this quantity of water is about 18 to 22 gallons. The water may be provided conveniently from the usual cold water tap, and in any case should not exceed about 75 F. The water is drained from the articles and replaced with fresh water, and this procedure is repeated until the water clears, thus indicating that the surface dirt has been removed.

As the second step, a top level of water, about 25 to 30 gallons for the size washer exemplified, is then introduced into the washer at a temperature of from about 100 F. to about 120 F. It is preferred that the higher temperatures be used for cotton material and the lower temperatures be used for striped or lettered articles and for nylon and other synthetic fabrics. Sufiicient soap is then introduced into the water to provide an optimum quantity of suds, and the washer operated for a period of at least about five minutes, preferably from five to seven minutes. Many commercial soaps are suitable for this purpose, among which are those available under the trade names of Rintex, Dri-Suds, Sparkle, C-20', and others.

In the third step, the soap solution is then discharged from the washer and the latter charged with a similar top level of water at the same temperature of from about 100 F. to about 120 F. Sufficient soap is added to provide optimum suds, and a small quantity of a soap booster, for example about 4 ounces of a booster such as that available under the name Apache, is added for the purpose of assisting in the release of tenaciously bound dirt such as clay. A small quantity of bleaching compound is also added for the purpose of initiating the bleach of grass stains and colored dirt such as red clay. For this purpose about 16 ounces of a bleaching solution such as those available under the trade names Clorox, Purex and others, is suitable. The 'washer is operated for a period of about ten minutes, after which the solution is discharged from the Washer.

In the fourth step the soap solution then is removed from the washer and a similar top level of fresh water is charged into the washer, at a temperature of from about 120 F. to about 140 F. Sufficient soap is added to provide optimum suds, and a quantity of bleaching agent is added, depending upon the type and character of the cloth. For example, about 48 ounces of Clorox bleaching solution has been found suitable in the present illustration for white cotton articles. For striped or lettered articles of white cotton or nylon the amount of bleach preferably is about 32 ounces. The washer is then operated for a period of at least about twenty minutes, after which the solution is drained from the washer.

In the case of dark colored fabrics it is necessary to substitute the following procedure for the third and fourth steps enumerated above: The washer .is charged with a top level quantity of water at a temperature of from about F. to about F., sufficient mild soap such as cocoanut oil soap is added for optimum suds, and the washer operated for a period of at least about twenty minutes.

In the fifth step for all fabrics, a quantity of rinse water at a temperature of from about 120 F. to about F. is charged into the washer and the latter operated for about five minutes, after which the rinse water is discharged. In the sixth step, a second quantity of rinse water at a temperature of from-about 100 F. is then charged into the washer and the latter operated for a s eaves period of about five minutes, after which the rinse water I is discharged.

In the event the foregoing treatment has failed to remove completely such stains as red clay, complete removal may be achieved by introducing into the second rinse water from about 2 to 6 ounces of oxalic acid. Additionally, it has been found that whereas successive repetitions of the foregoing treatment tend to darken certain colors, principally yellows and golds, restoration of the original color may be achieved by the oxalic acid-rinse treatment described.

For the seventh step, a final rinse is made with a quantity of cold water, between about 60 and 75 F., to which has been added a small quantity of neutralizer for the bleaching compound or for the soap employed in the foregoing substitute step. For example, in the present illustration, about 2 ounces of a neutralizer has been found to be suitable. Among various suitable neutralizers are those available under the trade names Erosto-Cetic, San-i-sour, and others. The washer is operated for a period of about five minutes, after which the rinse solution is discharged.

With the completion of the third rinse the articles are subjected to.a spin dry or other procedure by which the excess Water is extracted, after which the articles are processed according to their character and type of fabric.

For example, if the articles are football pants of cotton material, they are tumbled dry at a temperature of not more than about 140 F., after which the necessary repairs are made and then they are pressed on a topper.

In the event the articles are football pants of nylon or other synthetic fabric,the procedure following extraction involves hanging the articles to dry at room temperature, after which they are tumbled cold for about five minutes to soften the material preparatory to pressing. The pants are then turned wrong side out, necessary repairs are made, and then they are pressed on a topper.

In the event the articles are football jerseys, they are hung on hangers to dry at room temperature, following extraction. They are then tumbled cold for about five minutes, necessary repairs are made, and then they are pressed on a topper.

Since the foregoing cleaning procedure involves a minimum of shrinkage to the material, the'hand manipulations required to arrange the article on the press are sufficient in all cases to bring the article to proper size.

It is quite characteristic of football jerseys that excessive abrasion and staining occur at the elbows. In the event the foregoing cleaning procedure does not completely remove these abrasions and stains, they are readily eliminated by conventional hand spotting procedure with the following solution, the proportions being given as parts by weight: 128 parts water; 96 parts cleaning solvent such as carbon tetrachloride, chloroform, kerosene, or other recognized cleaning solvents; 24 parts soap of the moisture carrying type used in solvents of dry ieaning processes and available under such names as Lustrol, Sanitone, Street, and Adco; 16 parts lubricant of the type available under the trade name Neutral; and 4 parts ammonia. A simple quick brushing of this solution over the excessively stained areas generally is sufiicient, after which the jersey is rinsed by hand and hung on a hanger to dry at room temperature. When dry, the jerseys are tumbled cold for about five minutes, necessary repairs are made, and then they are pressed on a topper.

It is important to note that in the event it is necessary to use the spotting solution above described, it is used only after the bleaching steps of the cleaning process plained hereinbefore, that the articles are subjected to progressively decreasing temperatures of water through the rinsing steps. "This procedure is necessary in order to permit the mechanical scrubbing action in the Washer in the presence of soap and bleach, without incurring excessive shrinkage.

It is important to note further from the foregoing procedure that certain of the articles are Subjected to a bleaching treatment, and that such bleaching is done progressively, first with a mild solution and then with a stronger solution. This is important to the successful removal of stains such as grass and clay stains.

It has been determined that by use of the cleaning procedure described hereinbefore it is possible to eifect thorough cleaning of such athletic equipment as football uniforms, to the complete elimination of dirt, blogdstains, grass strains and cleat marks, without incurring change or running of colors and without shrinkage or deterioration of the cloth. Moreover, such uniforms may be cleaned a number of times equivalent to more than four seasons of varsity use, without noticeable deterioration of color and fabric strength. Thus, Whereas heretofore the same uniforms have survived a maximum of a single varsity season, the process of the present invention extends the useful life of such uniforms to many seasons. Considering the substantial cost of a single uniform comprising the pants and jersey, the economic advantage of the present process is apparent.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made in the details of the process steps described hereinbefore without departing from the spirit of this invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Having now described my invention and the manner in which the same may be used, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The process for cleaning fabrics including cotton, comprising subjecting the fabric while under mechanical agitation to successive washings in water at temperatures increasing progressively from a maximum of about F. to a maximum of about 140 F., and thereafter subjecting the fabric while under mechanical agitation to successive rinsings in water at temperatures decreasing progressively through said range.

2. The process of claim 1 wherein at least one of the rinsings preceding the last rinse is with an aqueous solution of oxalic acid for removing stains of the red clay type and for restoring darkened colors.

3. The process for cleaning fabrics including cotton, comprising subjecting the fabric while under mechanical agitation to the sequential steps of first Washing the fabric in Water at a temperature not exceeding about 75 F. to remove surface soil, next washing the fabric in an aqueous soap solution at a temperature of about F. to about F., next washing the fabric in an aqueous solution of soap at a temperature from about 120 F. to about F., and thereafter subjecting the fabric to successive rinsings in water at temperatures decreasing progressively through said range.

4. The process of claim 3 wherein the washing at a temperature of about 100 F. to about 120 F. includes a mild bleach, and the washing at a temperature from about 120 F. to about 140 F. includes a stronger bleach.

5. The process for cleaning fabrics including cotton, comprising subjecting the fabric while under mechanical agitation to the sequential steps of first washing the fabric in water at a temperature not exceeding about 75 F. to remove surface soil, next washing the fabric in an aqueous soap solution at a temperature from about 100 F. to about 120 F. for a period of at least about five minutes, next washing the fabric in an aqueous solution of soap at a temperature from about 100 F. to about 120 F. for a period of at least about ten minutes, next washing the fabric in an aqueous solution of soap at a temperature from about 120 F. to about 140 F. for a period 5 of at least about twenty minutes, and thereafter subjecting the fabric while under mechanical agitation to successive rinsings in Water at temperatures decreasing progressively through said range.

6. For use in the wet cleaning of fabrics, a spotting solution comprising, in parts by weight, about 128 parts water, about 96 parts cleaning solvent, about 24 parts soap, and about 16 parts lubricant.

7. For use in the wet cleaning of fabrics, a spotting solution comprising, in parts by weight, about 128 parts 10 water, about 96 parts cleaning solvent, about 24 parts soap, about 16 parts lubricant, and about 4 parts ammonia.

References Cited in the file of this patent 6 FOREIGN PATENTS 730,790 Great Britain June 1, 1955 OTHER REFERENCES Gegenstrom-Waschanlage, System Sulzmann, Engelhardt and Forster, Bremen, pp. 1-15, August 29, 1951.

Fligor et 211.: The Spotting Manual, Revised Ed., June 1946, The National Cleaner and Dyer, NY. 17, N.Y.,-

pages 59, 87, 88, 151-152, 155 and 210.

Hackhs Chemical Dictionary, Third Ed., 1944, Mc- Graw-Hill Book Co., Inc., page 604. 

1. THE PROCESS FOR CLEANING FABRICS INCLUDING COTTON, COMPRISING SUBJECTING THE FABRIC WHILE UNDER MECHANICAL AGITATION TO SUCCESSIVE WASHINGS IN WATER AT TEMPERATURE INCREASING PROGESSIVELY FROM A MAXIUM OF ABOUT 75*F TO A MIXTURE OF ABOUT 140*F., AND THEREAFTER SUBJEXTING THE FABRIC WHILE UNDER MECHANICAL AGITATION TO SUCCESSIVE RINSING IN WATER AT TEMPERATURES DECEASING PROGRESSIVELY THROUGH SAID RANGE. 